Khon kaen: On the first day of the fuel price increase, people still flocked to fill up their tanks, fearing they would run out. Fuel prices increased for the first time, and people flocked to refuel, fearing a shortage. Some gas stations displayed signs indicating "Diesel out of stock." Meanwhile, Chiang Mai's red taxis complained that it was like adding insult to injury, with a decline in tourists compounded by the fuel crisis.
According to Thai News Agency, despite the price increase this morning, people are still flocking to fill up their tanks. At a Bangchak gas station on the Khon Kaen-Chiang Yuen road in Mueang district, Khon Kaen province, long queues of people were waiting to fill up their tanks, overflowing onto the roadside. Some admitted they were unaware of the price increase, while many others said they knew in advance and had already filled up yesterday, but had to do so gradually to meet demand and feared further price increases, as the gas station limits fuel purchases to a maximum of 700 baht per small vehicle and 3,000 baht per large vehicle.
The fuel shortage is affecting every profession. Gas station employees, sympathizing with villagers who need fuel for agriculture, are defying orders and filling jerrycans for villagers they know and are confident are not hoarders.
For Bangchak, a new, modern, and the largest oil depot in the Northeast has been in operation since 2022, with a total tank capacity of approximately 157 million liters. It also boasts a comprehensive fuel transportation network from the refinery, covering the Bangkok-Bang Pa-in pipeline, supplemented by a road transport network on the Bang Pa-in-Khon Kaen oil depot route in Ban Phai district.
Regarding other gas stations of various brands, a survey conducted by the news team revealed that some were experiencing shortages and had no fuel available for customers. They were informed that fuel trucks would be arriving to replenish the supply today, but the exact time was unknown.
Chiang Mai residents rushed to refuel, causing diesel fuel to run out at many gas stations. Similarly, in Chiang Mai, long queues of vehicles lined up at many gas stations in the city throughout the morning. At the Bangchak gas station on the Chiang Mai-Lampang Super Highway, Chiang Mai residents brought their cars, pickup trucks, motorcycles, trucks, and even buses to fill up their tanks, resulting in a shortage of diesel fuel. The station posted a sign informing customers that diesel was out of stock, but premium diesel was still available. Gas station staff reported that a large influx of customers had been seen over the past two to three days, especially last night before the price increase, until this morning when the diesel supply ran out.
Nearby, at a PTT gas station operated by PTT Retail Business Co., Ltd., diesel fuel was still available. Our news team's vehicle filled up completely, but a few minutes later, the station was also out of diesel. Pickup trucks and other vehicles waiting in line complained and had to drive around to find another gas station.
For public transport operators, such as the iconic red four-wheeled taxis of Chiang Mai, things are looking bad. They're facing a double whammy of problems, from declining tourists to a fuel crisis. Uncle Daeng, a red taxi owner who has been providing service to Chiang Mai residents and tourists for almost 40 years, says that Chiang Mai's summer is in its low season, and the ongoing conflict has further reduced foreign tourists and passenger numbers. Now, the fuel crisis is making driving difficult and finding gas stations harder. If fuel prices rise, it will only worsen the situation for red taxi drivers.
P' La, a director of the Chiang Mai Motor Company's shared taxi service, which provides bus services on the Chiang Mai-Fang route-the familiar orange four-wheeled vehicles that have long served the people of Chiang Mai from the city center to Fang district in the far north-said that their group of shared taxis is starting to adapt to the diesel fuel shortage at gas stations. They are having drivers report the locations of gas stations that still have fuel to reduce the need to drive around searching for a refueling station. Regarding the possibility of rising fuel prices, he said he is not worried because he has navigated several crises before, including the COVID-19 pandemic and when diesel was 40 baht per liter, and still managed to provide services and make a profit. He affirmed, "I'm not afraid of high fuel prices; I'm afraid of not having enough fuel to fill up my tank."